The UFL just wrapped its strongest season to date, according to longtime spring football analyst Anthony Miller, who sees genuine optimism for the league's future despite lingering attendance issues.
Miller, who has covered everything from the original USFL to the XFL and now the UFL, believes 2026 marked a turning point for the merged league. The television ratings have been solid, and more importantly, the talent level and competitive parity reached new heights.
Rapole's Vision Paying Off
Miller credits UFL President Mike Rapole for transforming the league's trajectory, even when some decisions were initially questioned.
"He's made a lot of changes to this league, and some of it was really questioned at the beginning, but I think starting to see some of the rewards coming from that," Miller said. "I know a lot of UFL fans complained about the rosters kind of being overturned and having to do pretty much a whole redraft, but that ended up paying off because of all the talent that's on each team and the parity with the league."
The move to soccer stadiums has improved the television product, and Rapole's financial commitment gives the league stability that previous spring football ventures lacked. Miller contrasted this with the Alliance of American Football, where Tom Dundon pulled funding after just two months.
"It is really good to hear him have that kind of confidence that he's gonna stick it out," Miller noted. "He just has the confidence that he can get the job done."
New Markets Show Promise
While attendance remains a concern league-wide, Miller sees encouraging signs from the three new markets added in 2026. Orlando, Louisville, and Columbus have all established solid foundations despite being first-year franchises.
Even struggling markets like Dallas showed improvement, with attendance growing from 4,000-5,000 early in the season to over 7,000 for their final home game. Miller acknowledged Dallas should be "on the hot seat" but noted the progress made despite Toyota Stadium renovations limiting capacity.
Austin Reed's Development
Miller praised Dallas quarterback Austin Reed's growth throughout the season, despite the team's 4-6 record. Reed led the league with 21 touchdown passes but struggled with reading progressions early on.
"I think he really struggled with going through multiple reads. It always seems like he was just throwing it to the first person that the play requires it to be and not really going through his progressions," Miller explained. "But I think by that last game against St. Louis, you were starting to see that it was a little bit better for him."
While Rick Neuheisel has called Reed an "NFL quarterback," Miller believes he needs another UFL season to develop, though the Chicago Bears could be a logical landing spot given Reed's preseason success there.
Playoff Predictions
Looking ahead to the playoffs, Miller favors Orlando and Louisville to meet in the United Bowl. He sees Jack Plummer as "by far the most consistent quarterback in the UFL and maybe the only UFL quarterback that is right now ready to be in the NFL."
"Orlando is just a team that they have it all. When you got Jack Plummer mixed into that conversation, I just don't know how anyone can beat them at this point when they're playing at such a consistent level."
For Louisville, Miller credits head coach Chris Redmond for building "the most complete team in the league" with their dominant running game featuring James Robinson and Ian Wheeler.
Future Outlook
Miller expects the league to maintain its current eight-team structure for 2027, giving struggling markets another year to improve. However, he warned that consistent attendance problems could force relocations by 2028.
"I would rather Birmingham be 8,000, 9,000 a game every single game than just have one really good one that carries the rest of it," Miller said, emphasizing the need for sustainable attendance rather than occasional spikes.
With Rapole's financial backing and commitment to the league's long-term success, the UFL appears positioned for continued growth as it heads into its championship weekend.